In the 12th incident of robbery in the provincial capital, robbers took off with Rs 4.4 million, shot a security guard dead and injured another in a daylight robbery at Muslim Commercial Bank, Township Branch on Wednesday.
According to details about 1:30 pm five robbers riding a grey car bearing number plate LE-7673 reached the Hamdard Chowk Branch of MCB, opened indiscriminate fire and entered the bank. Holding the bank officials and the customers at gun point, they robbed the bank of Rs 4.4 million and were fleeing when a security guard, Abdul Latif, tried to stop them. The robbers started firing at him, killing him on the spot. Another guard named Muhammad Younis also received bullet injuries.
Security guard of Soneri Bank that is located in the neighbourhood also tried to stop the robbers, who opened fire at the Soneri Bank building also. The bank’s branch manager Ahsan sustained injuries from the shattered glass.
Heavy contingent of police under DIG Operations Ghulam Mehmood Dogar and DIG Investigations Ali Amir Malik reached the scene. Edhi Foundation ambulances also rushed the injured to Jinnah Hospital.
Police investigators and forensic experts collected fingerprints from the crime scene and also examined the video footage of the CCTV cameras. Late night, Township Police also registered case of the theft of Rs 4.4 million under sections 302/324/392 of Pakistan Penal Code and under 7-ATA (Anti Terror Act), on the complaint of Branch Manager Zahid.
While talking to the reporters, Tariq said the robbers would try to seek shelter under the Taliban umbrella, adding that over 70 members of two gangs were involved in the robberies. Dogar said the robbers would be nabbed soon.
The robbers left the locals in panic while the shopkeepers also escaped from the scene, leaving their shops open. A shopkeeper, Azam, said the robbers pointed their guns at him also. Liaqat Ali, a witness, said the robbers came out of the bank within three minutes.
In another similar incident, a man was murdered while resisting a robbery in his house on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as 34-years-old fruit vendor Ghulam Fareed, a resident of the Bandia wala Pul area. The robbers entered Fareed’s house and made him, his wife and children hostage and were about to escape with jewellery and cash when Fareed tried to stop them. The robbers then opened fire at him, killing him on the spot. Case was registered against three unidentified robbers.
